Sunday, September 21, 2008

A late and quick Lazy Lazy as the cobwebs are still fluttering around after a Bachelor Party in the Bleachers last night (plus…um…going out afterward) gave way to the Indians game/Ryder Cup, followed by some debacle in Baltimore. So yeah, I spent a lot of time on the couch today – and with The DiaBride’s Packers lining up for SNF, it looks to be more of the same.

To close out the bullpen for 2009 discussion for the day, Shelly Ocker adds little to the conversation that wasn’t already known – but here’s the link if you have the extra time.I still think that the name that’s added isn’t going to be one of the names Ocker lists (although Beimel and Cruz are intriguing) as I think that they’re looking for a guy who has a couple years of success under his belt with SOME history of closing. We don’t necessarily have to add the single-season record holder for saves if he’s going to cost too much. Guys like Scott Downs, Beimel, Dan Wheeler, and Cruz are much more appealing to me as they’ve been solid bullpen guys for a few years, with some history of closing, and have every chance as being as successful as the K-Rod’s or Fuentes’ available out there.

Back to the LaPorta comment, does anyone else see a scenario playing out next year where LaPorta starts in AAA, splitting playing time between 1B and LF? That way, if he excels out of the box he’d be ready to step into two of the more tenuous positions going into 2009, those that figure to be filled (at this point) by Garko and Francisco. If Garko or Francisco struggle out of the box, either can be sent down to Columbus and replaced by LaPorta in the same manner that the Brewers promoted Ryan Braun after he got into a rhythm in AAA a few years ago.